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Opening day gives the Rockies reason to recall their favorite moments

Clint Barmes celebrates after beating the Padres with a two-run blast in 2005. He was the first rookie in major-league history to hit a walk-off homer on opening day. (Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post)

For many baseball fans, nothing compares to opening day. What about the big-leaguers? Which is their favorite day? Which is the favorite moment in their career? Denver Post Rockies beat writers Patrick Saunders and Troy E. Renck asked several Rockies.

"It was Clint Barmes' walk-off homer on opening day (2005 at Coors Field). It was my first opening day, so that was a thrill all by itself. We won 12-10 against the Padres, so there were a lot of hits and runs. It was a crazy game. I was in the video room, inside the clubhouse, when Barmey hit his homer off (Trevor) Hoffman. By the time Barmey got to home plate, I was at home plate. That was a lot of fun. Just a great memory." — Pitcher Jeff Francis

"Winning the American League Central championship with the Twins in 2006. We won it after our season was over. We beat the White Sox (5-1), and then we watched the Royals and Tigers play on the JumboTron in the Metrodome. There were 30,000 people still in the ballpark watching with us. Kansas City beat the Tigers (10-8 in 12 innings). We knew we were in the playoffs, but that was the first time we were in first place — the whole season. Every time Kansas City scored, the fans went crazy and we went crazy. It was so cool."— Outfielder Michael Cuddyer

"My favorite day was opening day last year. I had butterflies everywhere. I get them sometimes, but not like that. It was kind of like when I first got called up. But I was little more nervous for this, my first opening day."— Third baseman Chris Nelson

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"It was when we had a group of guys come together unexpectedly in 2007 and we were holding our own. I always remember that season. The thing that I remember the most was that I didn't realize how lucky I was so early in my career to have a locker room full of friends. Not to say that these guys now aren't my friends. But it was a given that we were going out to dinner every night, and it would be 10 deep. If we weren't with our mom or dad, we were going to dinner together and hanging out. It was just a good group of guys. (Garrett) Atkins, (Ryan) Spilborghs, (Matt) Holliday, (Josh) Fogg, (Jeff) Francis. It was a special time." — Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki

"Just having my parents there for my first big-league game was the biggest thrill. It was at Coors Field (on Sept. 6, 2011). We were playing the Diamondbacks, and I think I drove in my first run."— Infielder Jordan Pacheco, who drove in two runs that day

"It was winning the (Atlantic Sun 2008) conference championship in college (Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn.). That gave us a bid to the NCAA regionals. That was the first time I'd been a part of a team winning a conference title. We were able to celebrate and that was so much fun. We were beating Gardner-Webb by two going into the ninth, but then I gave up two runs to let them tie it up. But we went on to win it 10-9 in 15 innings. It was back and forth the whole time. It was an amazing game."— Pitcher Rex Brothers

"I hit a walk-off double (for Aguilas Cibaenas) in the (2011) Dominican League in the 17th inning at 3:10 a.m. to beat Leones del Escogido. There were still a few fans around who got to see it."— Catcher Wilin Rosario

"There was a game in Little League in Hanceville Ala., when I was about 11 years old. As I walked off the field to come to bat, I said to the guy who hit behind me, 'We're going to go back to back.' Sure enough, we ended up hitting back-to-back homers. I don't even remember the kid's name, but it was a pretty cool moment." — Second baseman Josh Rutledge

"I think about when I made my major-league debut. It was in Denver against the Giants (on July 25, 2009). I had been in the bullpen for a few days, but we were ahead 8-2, so they sent me into the game. I came into the game and I was pretty nervous. I faced Bengie Molina; he was my first batter. I threw a first-pitch fastball and he swung and missed. Then I threw a slider in the dirt and he swung and missed. Then I threw a slider and he grounded out to short." — Pitcher Jhoulys Chacin

"I was sophomore in high school (Central High in Knoxville, Tenn.) and we won the state championship, going undefeated. I don't know who we played. (But) we won." — First baseman Todd Helton

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